Hindu cosmology Hindu cosmology is the description of the universe and its states of matter, cycles within time, physical structure, and effects on living entities according to Hindu texts. Hindu cosmology is also intertwined with the idea of a creator who allo ...

, the Karanodaka (IAST: ) or the Garbhodaka (IAST: ), also referred to as the Causal Ocean, is the origin of material creation. It is the place in the

spiritual sky Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the supreme deity in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' (1996). and his consort, Lakshmi, the supr ...

where

Mahavishnu Mahavishnu () is an aspect of Vishnu, the principal deity in Vaishnavism. In his capacity as Mahavishnu, the deity is known as the Supreme Purusha, the absolute protector and sustainer of the universe, the one who is beyond human comprehensio ...

lies down and creates the material world. The Causal Ocean is the border between the spiritual and material worlds.

Literature

The

Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen major Puranas (''Mahapuranas'') and one ...

offers the following details regarding the Causal Ocean: The above text also talks about this ocean with regards to the

hiranyagarbha Hiranyagarbha (, , poetically translated as 'universal womb') is the source of the creation of the universe or the manifested cosmos in Vedic philosophy. It finds mention in one hymn of the Rigveda ( RV 10.121), known as the Hiraṇyagarbha ...

, the golden cosmic egg of creation: Mahavishnu is described to lie down in the Causal Ocean. The water of the Causal Ocean is also referred to as the ''Karana Ocean'', and is regarded as wholly spiritual since it originated from the body of Mahavishnu. The sacred Ganga is mentioned to have its source from this ocean, stated as the reason for its purifying effect.

Balarama Balarama (, ) is a Hindu god, and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Baladeva, Balabhadra, and Sankarshana. The fir ...

is described to expand into the great serpent known as

Shesha Shesha (), also known by his epithets Sheshanaga () and Adishesha (), is a serpentine demigod ( naga) and king of the serpents ( Nagaraja), as well as a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the ...

. He is stated to repose on the Causal Ocean. He serves as the bed upon whom Vishnu reclines. The serpent is also stated to serve as the deity's paraphernalia, including such items as the umbrella, slippers, bedding, pillow, garments, resting chair, residence, the sacred ''gayatri'' thread, as well as his throne. During the time of creation, after Vishnu is described to have been sleeping for a while, the first emanations from the breathing of this deity are the personifications of the

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

, who awake him from his slumber. The ''Dashavatara Stotram'' mentions the Garbhodaka ocean:

References

{{reflist Hindu cosmology Places in Hindu mythology

Literature

See also

References